Richard Boyd Barrett TD, United Left Alliance Finance spokesperson and member of Finance Committee has welcomed the defeat of the government in a vote called this evening at the joint oireachtas committee on Finance on a proposal to insist that central bank governor Patrick Holohan comes before the committee before March 31st and the paynent of the Anglo promissory note.
Deputy Boyd Barrett said in a statement, “I think the commitee made the absolutely right decision in insisting that Patrick Holohan comes before the committee as soon as possible given the extreme urgency surrounding the payment of 3.1 billion to Anglo Irish bank at the end of the month under the terms of the promissory note”.
“It is disappointing but not surprising that the government members on the committee would oppose a proposal to bring Patrick Holohan before the committee to explain his position regarding the payment of the Anglo Promissory note”.
“3.1 billion is a huge amount of money being paid into a toxic Anglo Irish bank. If there is any way that this payment could be avoided it would make a huge difference to the public finances and provide the possibility of reversing the crippling cuts inmposed on people in this country. It could also provide much needed funds to put towards job creation”
“Given the extreme urgency of the situation the finance committee vote is to be welcomed.The commitee is simply doing its duty on behalf of ordinary citizens”